INDIVISIBLE Lambertville NJ / New Hope PA

Category: Electoral Issues

  • Saving Democracy in Doylestown with Protect the Results

    Check out the videos and photos from the Protect the Results rallies in Doylestown.

    Photos contributed by Bruce Berlin. Event full video contributed by Tom Brunt.

     

     

     

  • Just the facts on early voting/vote by mail

    Contributed by Olga Vanucci.

    • As of election day this year, 101 million people had voted early, either in person or by mail, across the US, compared to 47 million who did in 2016.  
    • Both NJ and PA only have mail voting, and not early voting at the polls.
    • In NJ, as of election day this year, 3.6 million ballots of the 6 million distributed to all voters were returned, a 60% return rate.  
    • In Pennsylvania, as of election day this year, 2.5 million ballots of 3 million distributed to voters who requested them were returned, an 81% return rate.
    • In both states mail ballots greatly exceeded the numbers of prior years, in NJ because this year mail ballots were sent to all voters (not just to those who requested them), and in PA because there was no mail voting in prior years (only absentee voting with a reason to vote absentee).
    • In PA, Democrats requested 1.9 million mail ballots and returned 1.6 million as of election day, an 84% return rate, while Republicans requested 800,000 ballots and returned 600,000 of them, a 74% return rate.  Unaffiliated voters requested 330,000 ballots and returned 260,000 of them, a 77% return rate.
    • In PA, mail ballots could only be counted starting on election day itself.

    Sources:  http://www.electproject.org/home/voter-turnout/voter-turnout-data and https://electproject.github.io/Early-Vote-2020G/index.html

  • Voting Reform Needed STAT

    Contributed by Deb Kline.

    “THIS IS RIDICULOUS”

    Sign held by a Milwaukee voter waiting to cast an in-person ballot after SCOTUS’ ruling declined to extend absentee voting deadlines.  

    Truer words were never spoken. Never mind that SCOTUS met by videoconference to deliberate the issue. Never mind that the polling locations in Milwaukee had been reduced to five from 180. The current voting system (or should I say systems since each state is responsible for its own) is broken and the time to call for voting reform is now. 

    We have witnessed a steady drumbeat of anti-voter strategies by those who wish to limit whose voice actually counts. Voting methods, requirements and technology vary widely from state to state and sometimes even within counties and municipalities. Numerous election security legislative proposals have been squashed. Polls have been closed or moved and voters de-registered without informing constituents. We’ve been stung by the defeat of the popular vote in favor of the Electoral College and by courts that have been politicized to favor the will of the Federalist Society rather than the will of the people. Did I mention gerrymandering? No, see the piece on REDMAP in this newsletter to add another log to the fire of outrage. 

    We fail to foresee how much lower the depth of Republican political chicanery can go in their ‘winner takes all, democracy be damned’ approach. But it can, and it does. Blinders off, lessons learned the hard way tend to have a profound effect. Our grumbling has become a roar and Congress must take note. 

    While the current rallying cry is that vote by mail must be an option nationwide. Trump has already signaled that’s not likely to happen from a federal level, saying that it’s ripe for voter fraud (side note that he intends to VBM because he’s allowed). Still, it’s only one piece of a larger puzzle to help ensure free and unfettered elections where everyone gets a voice. 

    Currently, each state is in control of its own voting processes and mechanisms. While it may not be prudent to take total control away from the states, it may be time for a federal standard at least for the duration of this pandemic. The “I have a plan for that” former presidential candidate, Elizabeth Warren outlines much of what was dismissed out of the third stimulus package, but calls for support in the next and upcoming legislation:  

    • Expand online voter registration so it’s an option in every state, extend voter registration deadlines as much as practicable, and let any eligible voter register on Election Day.
    • Make states provide at least 30 days of early voting to help reduce crowds and maintain access to safe, in-person voting.
    • Mail every registered voter a ballot and a postage-paid return envelope. That way, they can safely fill it out at home, send it back in, and participate in our democracy.
    • Ban states from purging voter rolls during this pandemic — unless a voter has come forward and said they want to be removed, or unless there’s objective evidence that their registration is out of date. And states must add voters’ names back to the rolls if they’ve already been purged.
    • Ensure equal access to the polls — regardless of race or ethnicity, language, tribal citizenship, or ability. That includes ensuring sufficient and safe polling places on Election Day, providing accessible ballot machines for people with disabilities, expanding voting hours, and allowing people to vote with a sworn statement of identity instead of an ID.
    • Provide no less than $4 billion in surge funding to states for election administration, compensate every poll worker (including providing hazard pay), and bolster election security.

    CALL TO ACTION: 

    As an activist, you have to be fired up. If you need one more reason to take action, consider this: Last week, Donald Trump claimed that if we made it easier for more people to vote, “you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.”

    Enough said? Use the extra time on your hands to demand that these emergency protections be included in the next coronavirus bill. Indivisible National is making it easy for us by providing the tools to get us started, including: 

    • Record a video to demand your senators include Elizabeth Warren’s election protection plan in the next coronavirus bill. Click here to make a video. 
    • Share our election security resource far and wide. Click here to view.

    Friday, April 17th is an Indivisible Vote By Mail day of action. Mark your calendars and make your voice heard!

    Additional Resources and Reading: 

    Brennan Center for Justice: Why a Vote by Mail Option is Necessary

    Heather Cox Richardson – particularly April 6 for background on Wisconsin’s primary voting debacle, but for a fantastic grounding in current and historical political movements, actions and consequences.

  • State of the State Voting: NJ and PA

    Contributed by Deb Kline.

    States currently have total control over how and when elections are held. While many eyes are on the proposal for national voting changes due to the coronavirus before the US Congress, it must be clear that states need to take or expand action to ensure a fair and robust election. Further, while Vote by Mail is the main focus, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, many states will be hard pressed to make sure enough ballots are ready, shipped and returned in time. Here’s the latest from NJ and PA, plus your call to action at the state level: 

    • Primaries in both states have been moved from their original dates due to the coronavirus. In New Jersey, the primary has been moved to July 7; and Pennsylvania is still on the calendar for June 2. 
    • Vote by Mail:  
      • NJ has allowed ‘no excuse needed’ vote by mail for some time. To receive a ballot by mail, the application must be received by the County Clerk 7 days prior to the election. A voter may also apply in person to the County Clerk until 3:00 p.m. the day before the election.
      • Pennsylvania loosened what was previously among the most restrictive requirements for absentee or vote by mail ballots. While it may seem as if the two are synonymous, the state does differentiate. Registered voters can apply for a mail-in ballot online, by mail or in person at the county election office. Applications for a mail-in ballot must be received one week in advance of the election and turned in by the date of the election. For the June 2 primary, applications for a mail-in ballot must be received by the county election office by 5 pm May 26. For more information on PA absentee and mail-in voting, go here 
    • Early voting: NJ allows in-person early voting 45 days prior to election day ending the day before the election at the County Clerk’s office. In Pennsylvania, however, there is no in-person early voting. Mail-in ballots go out 50 days in advance of the election.  

    It must be noted that the expected increase in vote by mail ballots will undoubtedly put a burden on local officials. In an Op-Ed in NJ Spotlight, David Goodman, team leader of the New Jersey chapter of Represent.Us – a national grassroots anti-corruption movement advocating for election and campaign finance reform, calls for strengthening the paper ballot system by making money available for reliable optical scanning machines and a state-wide standard for mail-in voting across counties. In NJ, two bills need your support: 

    • A- 3591, co-sponsored by Assemblymen Andrew Zwicker and Dan Benson, creates statewide standards for counties to follow. The bill provides protections for the voter and methods to ensure that questionable ballots are retained and adequately inspected. More than that, it would make information available to increase public awareness of voting by mail.
    • The second bill (A-2175) sponsored by Assembly members Raj Mukherji, Annette Chaparro, and James Kennedy, removes barriers to voting. Most significantly, the bill requires the secretary of state to establish a website for online voter registration.

    CALL TO ACTION

  • Pennsylvania’s Democratic Voters Step Up – Results of May 21st Primaries

    Contributed by Lisa Bergson.

    When it comes to the election of critical judgeships in our recent primaries, Party-endorsed candidates – both Democrat and Republican — dominated.  In what is colloquially known as a “jungle primary”, they and four other candidates all cross-filed (running on both Democratic and Republican ballots), potentially confusing uninformed voters. In the end tally, Democratic voters contributed 37% of the ballots for Republican judges, with Republican voters accounting for 32% of the Democratic total. Overall, however, Democrats did substantially better than Republicans, with 60% of the vote, improving on 2017’s primary.   To see the individual candidate vote tallies, go here.

    Noting that overall Democratic turnout was higher than in 2017’s primary, Carol Spievak, the Chair of the Solebury Democrats and the Deputy Chair of the Bucks County Democratic Committee, credits a combination of intensive canvassing and growing awareness: “There is a direct correlation between speaking directly with a Democratic voter and that voter actually going to the polls on election day.” She remains concerned, however, since the results varied widely, with communities, such as Wrightstown, Quakertown, and Bensalem, leaning heavily Republican.  Thus, there is much work still to be done to flip Bucks!

    Given the harshly oppressive policies emanating from the Republican party, shifting the composition of our local judiciary has never been more critical. As it stands, civil court cases affecting Family Court issues, like child custody and divorce court; Orphan’s Court; mental health-related rulings, and criminal cases, are presided over by the 13 judges on the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas.  Of these, 11 are Republicans and 11, men, some with little to no background in family law, making decisions that can literally be a matter of life and death.

    “They view it as a kind of purgatory,” says Democratic candidate Charissa Liller, noting that new judges are “very likely” to start in the Family Court division, which some see mainly as a path to higher court positions.  With a three-month backlog in family court, we as citizens must show up and vote for judges with the knowledge, experience, and compassion to work hard and make wise choices for our families and, most especially, our children in need of legal care and protection. As Charissa puts it, “Democrats care about issues, even when it doesn’t directly affect them.  They care about people.”

    More, because judges do move up through the system, assuring that there is a wider bench of judges who share our values is vital to preserving the integrity of our democracy.  As it stands, we can clearly see the power of the courts when it comes to curbing some of the most draconian policies unleashed by the current federal administration. We are fortunate in PA to have the opportunity to directly vote for our judgeships, compared to many other states where they are a matter of political appointment.  As State Senator Steve Santarsiero aptly states, “Voting is a habit we need to develop, a muscle we must exercise, along with our brains and our hearts.”

    Here’s what you need to know to promote voter turnout:

    What’s at stake?*

    • Two new seats on the Judiciary, plus one resignation.  In hopes of addressing our overburdened court system, in 2017, the legislature created two new openings in Bucks County, plus a slot made available by one Republican woman’s resignation.
    • Significant backlog of family and criminal cases. The Bucks County Court of Common Pleas hears Civil Cases.  As examples, based on the latest comprehensive data from 2017, of the 1,896 cases involving child Custody/Partial Custody/Visitation, only 727 or 42.1% were handled by a judge, and of the 416 cases of child abuse or neglect, just over half or a total of 262 were so adjudicated, with 57 still pending at year end.
    • Judges serve for ten years. These lengthy terms give the Court stability and allow judges to fully develop.  But, this also represents a significant commitment to a set of values that may or may not reflect our communities.  It’s vital that we show up and vote for those judges who best uphold the values we embrace.

    In the Running in Bucks

    Democrats running for the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas include:

    • Charissa Liller. Passionate and determined, Charissa brings her early years as a social worker in the poorest neighborhoods of Pittsburgh to her legal work, combating abuse and supporting women’s rights. With over 15 years in family law, she has also proven herself to be an able litigator, successfully trying over 40 jury trials during her years as an assistant district attorney. Among the initiatives she plans to pursue are a child advocate program, such as was established in Montgomery County; a mental health court “to get people who need it into treatment, rather than just punishing them”; and better “calendaring” for judges: “With our backlog, they still come in at 10:00, take one-and-a-half-hour lunches, and leave at 4:00!”
    • Jessica VanderKam. Having spent her career as a lawyer in Bucks County, Jessica is well-versed in all six divisions of our County Courts.  But, her focus has been in Family Court and Orphan’s Court, where she has handled some 1,000 cases before the Court of Common Pleas.  Her commitment is to fairness, and she is known for her compassionate treatment of our most vulnerable citizens. More, Jessica has served as a Law Clerk for three Bucks County judges, giving her first-hand experience of what it takes.
    • Jordan Yeager. Jordan has devoted his career to progressive issues, particularly civil rights – racial, sexual, and employment discrimination — as well as workers’ rights, including the City of Pittsburgh’s authority to impose paid sick leave upon employers.  He is best known for winning the first case in history to declare a state law that authorized fracking unconstitutional in 2013 because it violated the environmental rights of Pennsylvanians. His efforts on behalf of our environment are on-going, particularly through his work as lead outside counsel for the Delaware Riverkeeper Network.
    • Bucks County Commissioner and a Full Slate of Great Candidates.  Diane Marseglia and Bob Harvie are running for County Commissioner.  Bob aims to take a “more unified approach to development, infrastructure, and issues like the pollution at the old Navy Base” that is threatening the health of communities, such as Warminster. “He will do a lot for us,” Santarsiero predicts, citing more support for health and human services, as well as affordable community college, “a path to a better career.”  
    • Also, be sure and check out Meredith Buck, an impressive local hero, who has devoted her life as a nurse and a lawyer to helping others and  is now running for Coroner: “Meredith is a single mother of one and has been a resident of Chalfont Borough since 1998. She received the 2009/2010 Florence Nightingale Medal, the highest international honor that a nurse can receive, awarded by the International Committee of the Red Cross which ‘honors exceptional courage and devotion to caring for the victims of armed conflict or other disasters, or exemplary services and a creative and pioneering spirit in the areas of public health or nursing education.’”

    To learn more about the Democratic team running in Bucks www.bucksvictory.com. We are counting on you to Join the Resistance and Turn PA Blue!

    For more information, additional resources, and ways to get involved*:

    • Bucks County Blue: Great source for info on all races and candidates in Bucks, including upcoming events and voter registration.
    • Solebury Democrats: Lively, up-to-date site, with excellent content.
    • Indivisible: Provides a wealth of information and ready-made materials, ranging from Elections 101, Voting Rights, and Voting Suppression, Voter Registration, Endorsement Guides, and more.
    • SwingLeft: Nationwide organization dedicated to flipping Congressional districts like ours.
    • Flippable: Mounting a Blue Wave Tsunami across the states.

    *Special thanks to Charissa Liller and her able and responsive team for their time and carefully researched materials.

    Sources: